Anti-Obesity Housing Opens In New York City

The apartment complex in the Bronx is designed to help curb the residents’ obesity, with features such as “inviting” stairways. But, how does one make stairways inviting to people disinclined to use them, other than with, say, cups of soft serve awaiting on each landing? Blisstree writes:

Can the building you live in help you lose weight? That’s the idea behind NYC’s new “anti-obesity” apartment complex, an eight-story Bronx building called “The Melody” that was unveiled last week. The building was put up by a private development company, not the city, but units are only available to families making under $90,000 per year. It has a gym on the first floor, exercise equipment for adults and children out back, and “inviting” stairways to encourage residents to avoid elevators. Motivational slogans and signs hang on the walls.

I don’t think this will do much in the way of combating obesity — the kind of person who chooses to buy a condo in a fitness-friendly complex is probably someone who’s already concerned with diet and exercise. And if they’re not — well, the most inviting stairways in the world aren’t likely to make a difference.

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i dont think so either. I was born, n currently live in NY. We are use 2 connivence… and i think thats our downfall. Fast-food joints on every corner; 4 or 5 per block. Trains/Subway, busses, and taxis help promote commuting but your not really putting any physical strain on ur body! Just my thoughts ladies and gentleman… just my thoughts!

Anonymous

i dont think so either. I was born, n currently live in NY. We are use 2 connivence… and i think thats our downfall. Fast-food joints on every corner; 4 or 5 per block. Trains/Subway, busses, and taxis help promote commuting but your not really putting any physical strain on ur body! Just my thoughts ladies and gentleman… just my thoughts!

Jaymalls

i dont think so either. I was born, n currently live in NY. We are use 2 connivence… and i think thats our downfall. Fast-food joints on every corner; 4 or 5 per block. Trains/Subway, busses, and taxis help promote commuting but your not really putting any physical strain on ur body! Just my thoughts ladies and gentleman… just my thoughts!

Well, I don’t know about making stairs “inviting” but a lot of buildings go out of their way to make the stairs _un_inviting and difficult to use. Stairs that are too steep or the runners are too narrow, poorly lit (making them dangerous in a host of ways, from tripping over things you don’t see to making it more likely you’ll be attacked), set with doors that proclaim that opening them will trip a fire alarm (even though it doesn’t and that’s the way you’re supposed to go on the stairs all the time, not just in a fire)… I can’t say I give this much credence in terms of weight loss, but just making it so you _can_ use the stairs without taking your life into your own hands is a good start!

quartz99

Well, I don’t know about making stairs “inviting” but a lot of buildings go out of their way to make the stairs _un_inviting and difficult to use. Stairs that are too steep or the runners are too narrow, poorly lit (making them dangerous in a host of ways, from tripping over things you don’t see to making it more likely you’ll be attacked), set with doors that proclaim that opening them will trip a fire alarm (even though it doesn’t and that’s the way you’re supposed to go on the stairs all the time, not just in a fire)… I can’t say I give this much credence in terms of weight loss, but just making it so you _can_ use the stairs without taking your life into your own hands is a good start!

jackedu317

you can’t force people to use the stairs, but here’s some ideas. narrow doorways, smaller beds, showers, and furniture. or a treadmill built into the floor so you have to walk a mile to get to the kitchen. just a thought…

jackedu317

you can’t force people to use the stairs, but here’s some ideas. narrow doorways, smaller beds, showers, and furniture. or a treadmill built into the floor so you have to walk a mile to get to the kitchen. just a thought…

jackedu317

you can’t force people to use the stairs, but here’s some ideas. narrow doorways, smaller beds, showers, and furniture. or a treadmill built into the floor so you have to walk a mile to get to the kitchen. just a thought…

Jaymalls

lmao… your a fool for that treadmill in the floor ish. I can tell you get high from time 2 time!

BDG

IMHO I don’t think elevators should be allowed in buildings below ten storeys, ok there should be one, but only for special situations, like if someone needed a piano in the penthouse or something along those lines.

BDG

IMHO I don’t think elevators should be allowed in buildings below ten storeys, ok there should be one, but only for special situations, like if someone needed a piano in the penthouse or something along those lines.

NotSoFastThere

A good friend of mine has severe arthritis in both of her knees…walking up stairs is literally painful for her. Are you suggesting that people like her who suffer from similar conditions would need to provide a doctor’s note in order to use the one elevator? That seems kind of outrageous, IMHO.

Hadrian999

there are all kinds of ways to engineer living areas to promote activity but it takes money and commitment to get them done

Hadrian999

there are all kinds of ways to engineer living areas to promote activity but it takes money and commitment to get them done

Anonymous

lmao… your a fool for that treadmill in the floor ish. I can tell you get high from time 2 time!

NotSoFastThere

A good friend of mine has severe arthritis in both of her knees…walking up stairs is literally painful for her. Are you suggesting that people like her who suffer from similar conditions would need to provide a doctor’s note in order to use the one elevator? That seems kind of outrageous, IMHO.